At the risk of flaming....125cc bikes
Discussion
Hi there, need a little advice re 125cc bikes. I just need a city commuting bike, can't justify the time or expense of a 'proper' bike or full bike licence. I'm under the impression a CBT will cover me on one of these? If so, which is the best one? How much would I pay for insurance/tax, what sorts of speed can they do?
Looking to spend max £2k all in (bike, CBT, kit and insurance if possible). Commute is 10 miles each way (will be cycling 2 days a week).
Had a look at Honda CBR125 - like the look but is it too much of a 'real bike' rep?
I am a complete novice with this so all help gratefully received!
Bill
Looking to spend max £2k all in (bike, CBT, kit and insurance if possible). Commute is 10 miles each way (will be cycling 2 days a week).
Had a look at Honda CBR125 - like the look but is it too much of a 'real bike' rep?
I am a complete novice with this so all help gratefully received!
Bill
The Honda City Fly, Suzuki RV125 and Yamaha TW125 are good Trail like bikes but they have road tyres, you'll pick up a newish one under £1500. Ideal for commuting. The CG125 Honda is the "classic" commuter bike but they do look a bit "small" on the road these days. Otherwise the VT125 Honda, Kawasaki Eliminator, Suzuki Intruder/Mararader and the Dragstar(???) are the "chopper" looking alternatives. Avoid the Chinese copies like the plague. They may be very cheap but they have Poor quality metalwork and engines and very little backup generally.
Edited by telecat on Wednesday 21st March 15:07
I had a Yamaha DT125 a while back as a winter hack.It had a full Dep race exhaust on it and it would do 90mph.As standard they will do 80mph maybe a bit more.Some 125's will do 100mph though.The only thing with 125 two strokes is to let them warm up first and always keep the oil topped up.A lot of younger owners will just start them up ref the tits of them and thrash them from cold which they really dont like.
Edited by TPS on Wednesday 21st March 17:13
I used to have a CG125 which was fantastic, 110+mpg and could keep up with urban traffic. I really like the look of the Suzuki VanVan, nice big soft tyres, just the thing for giving a comfy ride over urban potholes.
I'd use a large chunk of your budget for kit, like £1000 for CBT and equipment leaving £1000 for bike & insurance. Get a good set of textiles (£300+) to keep you warm and dry, good boots (£100+) and two sets of good gloves (summer & winter, £150+). Get a decent lid (£100+) too, your CBT (£100) and that might leave you change to sort some luggage out if you want. No point skimping on your gear, you're going to be wearing it everyday so may as well get stuff you're comfortable with.
I reckon you would be well advised to get at least a restricted licence anyway as it will make your insurance cheaper. Also, slightly better commuter bikes like CB250's will then be accesible to you if you want at a later date.
I'd use a large chunk of your budget for kit, like £1000 for CBT and equipment leaving £1000 for bike & insurance. Get a good set of textiles (£300+) to keep you warm and dry, good boots (£100+) and two sets of good gloves (summer & winter, £150+). Get a decent lid (£100+) too, your CBT (£100) and that might leave you change to sort some luggage out if you want. No point skimping on your gear, you're going to be wearing it everyday so may as well get stuff you're comfortable with.
I reckon you would be well advised to get at least a restricted licence anyway as it will make your insurance cheaper. Also, slightly better commuter bikes like CB250's will then be accesible to you if you want at a later date.
hiccy said:
I used to have a CG125 which was fantastic, 110+mpg and could keep up with urban traffic. I really like the look of the Suzuki VanVan, nice big soft tyres, just the thing for giving a comfy ride over urban potholes.
I'd use a large chunk of your budget for kit, like £1000 for CBT and equipment leaving £1000 for bike & insurance. Get a good set of textiles (£300+) to keep you warm and dry, good boots (£100+) and two sets of good gloves (summer & winter, £150+). Get a decent lid (£100+) too, your CBT (£100) and that might leave you change to sort some luggage out if you want. No point skimping on your gear, you're going to be wearing it everyday so may as well get stuff you're comfortable with.
I reckon you would be well advised to get at least a restricted licence anyway as it will make your insurance cheaper. Also, slightly better commuter bikes like CB250's will then be accesible to you if you want at a later date.
I'd use a large chunk of your budget for kit, like £1000 for CBT and equipment leaving £1000 for bike & insurance. Get a good set of textiles (£300+) to keep you warm and dry, good boots (£100+) and two sets of good gloves (summer & winter, £150+). Get a decent lid (£100+) too, your CBT (£100) and that might leave you change to sort some luggage out if you want. No point skimping on your gear, you're going to be wearing it everyday so may as well get stuff you're comfortable with.
I reckon you would be well advised to get at least a restricted licence anyway as it will make your insurance cheaper. Also, slightly better commuter bikes like CB250's will then be accesible to you if you want at a later date.
That's really helpful, thank you. What is the 'restricted licence' and what would I have to do over and above the CBT?
The restricted licence is a test that you can do on a 125cc bike.It then allows you to ride around on any cc bike without learner plates and you are allowed on motorways etc like anyone else.The reason it is called restricted or 33bhp is because the bike has to have a restriction kit fitted that limits the powerer of the bike to 33bhp.~If you are under 21 you can only take this test but if you are over 21 you can do your direct access full licence.If it were me and you are over 21 i would just do your full test though so you do not have to mess about with restrictor kits etc.
Forgot to put what you would need to do.In order to obtain this licence you would need to the following.
CBT-Compulsory Basic Training 1 day course.
Therory Test pass for bikes.
Then pass a bike test on a 125cc bike.
the only real difference here is that if you are over 21 you can take the test on a 500cc bike and do your direct Access.
CBT-Compulsory Basic Training 1 day course.
Therory Test pass for bikes.
Then pass a bike test on a 125cc bike.
the only real difference here is that if you are over 21 you can take the test on a 500cc bike and do your direct Access.
The reason I suggested the restricted licence is because:
A) I think you will have lower insurance with a full licence for your vehicle rather than a provisional.
B) Your CBT will expire every two years and you will need to resit which I personally would find annoying. And costly.
C) As you are looking for a cheap bike for commuting you wouldn't really need a full license for the forseeable.
Whilst the UK market isn't exactly full of suitable bikes, there are a few good commuters that wouldn't need restrictors fitted and are larger than 125cc. Honda CB/CBF250's spring to mind here. You wouldn't need half the training to take a restricted licence as you would for DAS: in fact, get your CBT, get your own bike and you would probably only need two or three lessons before your test keeping costs down.
A) I think you will have lower insurance with a full licence for your vehicle rather than a provisional.
B) Your CBT will expire every two years and you will need to resit which I personally would find annoying. And costly.
C) As you are looking for a cheap bike for commuting you wouldn't really need a full license for the forseeable.
Whilst the UK market isn't exactly full of suitable bikes, there are a few good commuters that wouldn't need restrictors fitted and are larger than 125cc. Honda CB/CBF250's spring to mind here. You wouldn't need half the training to take a restricted licence as you would for DAS: in fact, get your CBT, get your own bike and you would probably only need two or three lessons before your test keeping costs down.
hiccy said:
The reason I suggested the restricted licence is because:
You wouldn't need half the training to take a restricted licence as you would for DAS: in fact, get your CBT, get your own bike and you would probably only need two or three lessons before your test keeping costs down.
You wouldn't need half the training to take a restricted licence as you would for DAS: in fact, get your CBT, get your own bike and you would probably only need two or three lessons before your test keeping costs down.
Im not to sure i can agree with this.A test is a test and the only reason the restricted may be easier to pass is because the DAS is done on a heavier and bigger bike so low speed manoeuvres are harder to complete.We had a bloke on my test who failed his das came back and did the restricted and failed that too.
The other points about bikes like the Honda are right though and a good point
Edited by TPS on Thursday 22 March 21:58
I took 10 two hour lessons to do DAS on top of CBT which cost me £600. If I'd purchased a 125 and was only interested in riding a bike of that size or similar, why would I benefit from spending more money on training to ride a larger machine and getting additional instruction when instead I could practice for a few months on my own bike and spend about a ton getting a couple of lessons on when I felt comfortable of sitting the test.
Wouldn't be my personal choice, but given the aim of the OP I'd say it's worth a look and has to be preferrable to sitting on L plates and getting a CBT again in two years time.
Incidentally the two tests do differ a bit.
Wouldn't be my personal choice, but given the aim of the OP I'd say it's worth a look and has to be preferrable to sitting on L plates and getting a CBT again in two years time.
Incidentally the two tests do differ a bit.
hiccy said:
The reason I suggested the restricted licence is because:
A) I think you will have lower insurance with a full licence for your vehicle rather than a provisional.
B) Your CBT will expire every two years and you will need to resit which I personally would find annoying. And costly.
C) As you are looking for a cheap bike for commuting you wouldn't really need a full license for the forseeable.
in fact, get your CBT, get your own bike and you would probably only need two or three lessons before your test keeping costs down.
A) I think you will have lower insurance with a full licence for your vehicle rather than a provisional.
B) Your CBT will expire every two years and you will need to resit which I personally would find annoying. And costly.
C) As you are looking for a cheap bike for commuting you wouldn't really need a full license for the forseeable.
in fact, get your CBT, get your own bike and you would probably only need two or three lessons before your test keeping costs down.
From personal experience I totally agree with Hiccy, cheaper insurance when you do your test, by the time you have done your CBT a couple of times you will have spent the same as doing a test in the first place and it won't run out and, more importantly, you won't need L plates
I think that if you get your CBT first and then ride around on that for a year before doing your test you will get the feel of it and won't need many lessons when you come to do your test!
edit: after two years on a restricted license the restriction is lifted and you can ride anything anyway so I don't see the need in doing the DAS especially as you only require a little bike, you may decide to move up to a bigger bike after a couple of years.
Edited by Mr Miyagi on Thursday 22 March 23:07
hiccy said:
I took 10 two hour lessons to do DAS on top of CBT which cost me £600. If I'd purchased a 125 and was only interested in riding a bike of that size or similar, why would I benefit from spending more money on training to ride a larger machine and getting additional instruction when instead I could practice for a few months on my own bike and spend about a ton getting a couple of lessons on when I felt comfortable of sitting the test.
Wouldn't be my personal choice, but given the aim of the OP I'd say it's worth a look and has to be preferrable to sitting on L plates and getting a CBT again in two years time.
Incidentally the two tests do differ a bit.
Wouldn't be my personal choice, but given the aim of the OP I'd say it's worth a look and has to be preferrable to sitting on L plates and getting a CBT again in two years time.
Incidentally the two tests do differ a bit.
This has been really helpful, thanks all! I think the plan will be to do the CBT and buy a 125cc. I can then see how I get on and when it comes to near-CBT renewal time I might just do the full test. At the moment I can't justify the cost of the full test as I just don't need that capability - but over a few years the cost would even out I suppose. At least if I have a year's riding experience I might need fewer lessons which will help keep the cost down overall. I can't see a 10 mile city commute needing more than 80mph so will stick with the 125 for the moment I think!
I was thinking something japanese for reliability so will have a look a Honda, Yamaha etc.
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